Ethanolamine-induced assembly of microcompartments is required for <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> virulence.

ABSTRACT: Many bacteria metabolize ethanolamine as a nutrient source through cytoplasmic organelles named bacterial microcompartments (BMCs). Here we investigated the molecular assembly, regulation, and function of BMCs in Fusobacterium nucleatum-a Gram-negative oral pathobiont that is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The F. nucleatum genome harbors a conserved ethanolamine utilization (eut) locus with 21 genes that encode several putative BMC shell proteins and a two-component signal transduction system (TCS), in addition to the enzymes for ethanolamine transport and catabolism. We show that the expression of most of these genes and BMC formation are highly increased in wild-type fusobacteria when cultured in the presence of ethanolamine as a nutrient source. Deletio

SUBMITTER: Franklin DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11796344 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature